“Materialistic achievements and luxuries have started eroding the belief in God. Parents who get rid of babies fearing children will be a hurdle for their lifestyle are now suffering,” the letter adds.

A new pastoral letter from Idukki Bishop Mar Mathew Anikuzhikattil, published in the December issue of the diocese’s Sahyanadam bulletin, says all kinds of birth control measures are counter to God’s will and process. The diocese has decided to get the letter read before the parishioners one Sunday this month. The letter further says families who adopt and apply programmes and ideas of the modern world are now suffering its consequences. “Permanent and temporary birth control measures are leading to anxiety and frustration in families,” the letter reads, adding that even when there were no modern facilities our forefathers welcomed new life without looking at quantity or quality.

“Materialistic achievements and luxuries have started eroding the belief in God. Parents who get rid of babies fearing children will be a hurdle for their lifestyle are now suffering,” the letter adds. The Bishop highlights that many quarters are trying to propagate that population and population density are dangerous. “Couples who should be participating happily in the divine process of creation are now trying to upturn this divine process,” the letter says.

Those opposing marriage, delaying it or refusing to accept the institution of marriage also stand in the way of new children, the letter says. It adds that families that accept life with compassion and respect make orphanages and old age homes irrelevant.